Key Issues Give Shares a Lift

Updated Sept. 9, 1999 4:58 p.m. ET

TORONTO -- The stock market's key index ended higher Thursday on the back of gains in the oil and gas group, as well as strength in Nortel Networks and BCE .

The Toronto Stock Exchange 300-Composite Index rose 71.51 to 7126.48. Advancing issues exceeded decliners 564 to 420, in volume of 157.6 million shares, up from Wednesday's total of 127.6 million shares. Trading value rose to 3.29 billion Canadian dollars from C$2.15 billion....